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Packers need to tackle better at Baltimore tonight

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Packers head coach Matt LaFleur

The Green Bay Packers missed a total of 24 tackles in their preseason opener against the Houston Texans last week.  Those 24 misses cost the defense an extra 164 yards and that had head coach Matt LaFleur unhappy about his teams performance.

Throw in 12 penalties for 102 yards and the coach knows there’s plenty of room for improvement when the Packers face the Baltimore Ravens in preseason game number-two on Thursday night.

A reporter this week asked LaFleur if the misses tackles are understandable, given the fact that the team doesn’t bring anybody to the ground during training camp practice.

“The expectation is you always bring the guys to the ground,” LaFleur said.  “The standard is never going to change, and it’s never an excuse, but I do think you get some younger guys in there that maybe aren’t quite accustomed to this level of play yet.  It might take a minute for them to figure it out, but certainly that’s never an excuse.”

Certainly the lack of work on tackling during training camp keeps teams healthier going into the regular season.  The trade off is always sloppy tackling in the preseason and even early into the regular season.  But the Packers coaching staff would certainly welcome continued improvement as they move towards the season opener against the Bears on September 5th.

 

Rick Wagner becomes the third Wisconsin player taken

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Ricky Wagner Photo/Wisconsin

Ricky Wagner
Photo/Wisconsin

The Baltimore Ravens drafted Wisconsin OT Ricky Wagner in the last pick in the 5th round, the 168th pick in the draft.

Heading into 2012, Wagner was thought to be a potential first round talent.  However, the way 2012 started with the issues on the offensive line and an early coaching change, Wagner saw his stock drop.  Wagner received all-Big Ten honorable mention recognition in 2010 and 2011 and was started most of the games he appeared in.

He joins C Travis Frederick and RB Montee Ball as Wisconsin players drafted this year.

Aaron Rodgers contract extension could be nearing, Matthews also (Updated)

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Aaron Rodgers

Aaron Rodgers

It shouldn’t surprise anyone that Aaron Rodgers will some day be the highest paid player in the NFL.  That day could be coming soon.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting that the Packers and Rodgers are closing in on the contract extension.  In his story, Schefter throws out the numbers of 4-years and near $25 million a year.

In 2008, Rodgers signed a 6-year $60-million deal which has put the MVP signal caller in the middle of the QB pay scale despite his success.  Although, at the time, that was the standard deal for a QB of his caliber.  That contract expires in 2014.

Earlier this off-season, Ravens QB Joe Flacco became the highest paid player in the league by signing a 6-year, $120.6 million deal with $52 million guaranteed.  This deal for Rodgers would blow that out of the water.

Along with Rodgers, the Packers will have big decisions to make with Clay Matthews and B.J Raji who are entering the final years of their rookie deals.

***UPDATE:  Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel added to the topic this morning say the Packers are close on a Matthews extension as well.***

Wildcard weekend is here! (VIDEO)

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The 2013 NFL playoffs begin Saturday with the start of Wildcard weekend.

Play begins Saturday afternoon in the AFC with the Cincinnati Bengals taking on the

JJ Watt

JJ Watt

Houston Texans in Houston (3:30pm CT).

The Bengals are looking for their first playoff win since 1990 and they’ll need a strong defensive showing to pull it off.  Over the last 8-games, the Bengals have allowed an average 12.8 points a game.  Over the last 3-games, Cincinnati has tallied  9 take/aways, 9 sacks and scored 3 defensive touchdowns.

Houston, at one time had been playing for the number 1 seed in the AFC.  Not only did the Texas fail to secure the top spot, but they failed to hang on to the number-2 spot and find themselves in wild card weekend.

The Texans are led defensively by former Wisconsin Badger defensive end J.J. Watt who put up some monster numbers this season.  Watt has 20 1/2 QB sacks, 107 tackles including 39 tackles for loss, 16 passes defensed and 4 forced fumbles. [Read more…]